Approach To Vaginitis

OVERVIEW

This page is dedicated to covering how one would clinically approach a suspected case of vaginitis.

WHAT IS VAGINITIS?

Fundamentally, vaginitis is a general term that refers to disorders of the vagina that are caused by infection inflammation or changes to the normal flora.

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON CASUES?

Infectious causes of vaginitis include: 

Dermatological causes of vaginitis include:

Other causes of vaginitis include:

HOW DO PATIENTS PRESENT WITH VAGINITIS?

Chief complaints: as often is the case in medicine, patients will present to the clinic with a specific complaint. The following are some common “chief complaints” for vaginitis:

  • Vaginal discharge changes: this can include color, odor, or volume
  • Vulvar/vaginal pruritus
  • Vulvar/vaginal burning
  • Dysuria 
  • Dyspareunia
  • Spotting: patients may notice scant vaginal bleeding
  • Dysuria
WHAT IS SOME IMPORTANT HISTORY TO COLLECT IN PATIENTS WITH VAGINITIS?

What Are The Goals Of The History Taking?

This topic of “what to ask” during a patient history can become a confusing one. Perhaps in order to best target our questions we must first understand our general goals of what we hope to accomplish during our interview. Major goals of the interview should likely revolve around:

  • How urgent is the complaint? 
  • Is the patient experiencing vaginitis or something else?
  • What is the most likely cause of the patient’s vaginitis?

How Urgent Is The Patient’s Complaint?

Generally speaking the urgency of the patient’s complaint is often predetermined by the clinical context. Patients with uncomplicated vaginits (especially who present to the outpatient OBGYN clinic) will not have really many urgent concerns.

Is This Vaginitis Or Something Else?

 

What Are The Most Likely Causes Of This Patient’s Vaginitis?

 

THE PHYSICAL EXAM IN PATIENTS VAGINITIS

 

CLINICAL WORKUP FOR VAGINITIS

 

 

Page Updated: 08.28.2016